Vol. 485 No. 2
142 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers in north Mayo who will be excluded from the compensation for flooding scheme because of the 50 hectare limit due to their commonage holdings; and whether an exception can be made for them to be included due to the severity of their loss in the summer of 1997. [22834/97]
The aim of the scheme of assistance for weather related crop losses in 1997 is to provide aid to those farmers whose farm viability is at serious risk because of crop losses in 1997 arising from the severe weather conditions during the year.
The scheme is confined to farmers with an offfarm income in 1997 of less than £16,000, a milk quota not exceeding 25,000 gallons, a sugar beet quota, delivered, of less than 1,000 tonnes, a forage area no greater than 50 hectares or a pig production unit not exceeding 100 breeding sows.
